Connecting device.



M. R. COWELL. GONNEGTING DEVIUB. APPLICATION FILED MAR. e, 1912.

Patented Aug". 18, 191% [WM-W701i M a. 004/54 1.

MARCUS RAY GOWELL, OF PRINCE ALBERT, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA.

CONNECTING DEVICE.

mower.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A11 18, 1914.

Application filed March 6, 1912. Serial No. 682,052.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARCUS RAY CownLL, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Prince Albert, in the Province of Saskatchewan, Dominion of Canada, stock dealer, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Connecting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in connecting devices and particularly to those of the type used in harness and hitching devices, such as may be employed at the end of a neck yoke or on the swingle or double tree or on breast straps or similar locations.

The objects of the invention are to provide generally an improved and simplified form of connecting device which will securely retain the parts together and yet permit their rapid release when desired.

Further objects are to provide such form of device as will not become disengaged throughjarring produced during movement.

Another object is to provide an instrument of the class specified, which from an operative standpoint will in usage possess a high degree of efficiency and effectiveness and which, structurally considered, will be of the greatest possible simplicity, being composed of but few parts, all adapted for being made at a minimum costand individually so formed as to be capable of being readily assembled in a neat and compact arrangement for accomplishing the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter and with these and other ends in view this invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of parts and arrangement of elements hereinafter more explicitly set forth as an exemplification of the underlying principles involved in the invention.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood and be comprehensible to others skilled in the art, drawings illustrating a convenient means of carrying out the same are pointed out as a part of this specification, and while the controlling principles of the invention may be otherwise applied by modifications falling within the scope of the claim, the hereinafter disclosed embodiment is that which will ordinarily be preferable to employ in practice and is regarded as representing substantial improvements over the many obvious or implied variations of the same.

In such drawings it is to be noted that like numerals refer to corresponding parts in each figure.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view there through. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail on the line 2-2, Fig. 2. Fig. & is a detail in plan of the underside of the supporting member. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative form of the invention. Fig. 6, is a sectional view through the locking dogs on the alternative form of the invention.

Referring first to the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, A represents a supporting member adapted to be attached to one of the two elements which are to be connected. 1 In the use to which it is put in the embodiment illustrated, this member is connected to the trace B, the opposite end of the supporting member being adapted to be connected to the end of the swingle tree C which forms the other element to be connected by the connecting device. The supporting element is adapted to receive either a part of the opposite element to which. it is to be attached or a member connected thereto. In the embodiment illustrated the supporting member is formed with an aperture 10 adapted to receive the head 11 of a locking member D which is pivotally supported from the end of the swingle tree. The supporting member carries a pair of pivoted locking dogs E and F normally held in engaged position by means of a spring 12 supported from an intermediate block 13. The ends 14 and 15 on the dogs are adapted to project over the aperture 10 and be spread by the head 11 of the locking member when the same is inserted, said dogs finally springing to locking position, as hereinafter explained. In this form of the invention, the slot 10 has an enlarged portion 16 and a constricted portion 17, the constricted portion being adapted to fit a neck portion 18 on the head 11, the enlarged portion being adapted to give free passage to the larger portion 19 of the head 11. This head may also be provided with a beveled surface 21 and 22 at the sides, by which the spring dogs may be spread during insertion. The extremities of the dogs extend over the aperture at substantially the juncture between the enlarged and conlarged part of the aperture.

stricted portions and are adapted to meet over said portions and prevent movement of the head 11 from the constricted to the en- In connecting the two elements with this form of fastener the head 11 is forced through the aperture 10 and between the dogs, the dogs being spread by engagement of the head 11 with the inclined or cam surfaces on the head. When the enlarged portion 19 of the head has passed the dogs they will spring together about the neck portion 18 and then the locking member is drawn longitudinally until the neck portion 18 fits in the constricted portion 17 of the head, when the dogs will spring together and assume the position shown in Fig. 1, preventing return movement of the locking member until the dogs are separated, manually or otherwise. It will be noted that as the squared portion 18 fits closely the constricted portion 17 of the head, the trace will be held flatly and evenly and the locking member and supporting member will be held in alinement with each other.

. In the ,form shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the supporting member A has a ring 23 formed thereon. The dogs E and F are of similar construction and a strap H is connected to one end of the supporting member, the opposite end of the strap being formed with ratchet notches 24 on opposite sides adapted to beengaged by the extremities 25 and 26 of the dogs, said extremities being beveled on the under sides so that the do s may be spread by the tapered extremity 2? on the strap. The extremities of the dogs project over the aperture 28 which is of such size that it will just fit the strap. This form of the invention may be conveniently used as a hobble, or for a halter or similar purposes.

What I claim as myv invention is:

1. In a connecting device, a supporting member and a locking member, the supporting member having an opening, said" opening comprising a constricted portion and an closed.

2. In a connecting-device, a supporting member and a locking member, the supporting member having an opening, said openmg constricted portion, the locking member comprising a lug having a neck portion and an enlarged head portion, a pair of dogs adjacent the opening, the ends of the dogs being beveled, said lug being adapted to engage in the opening and one side of the lug adapted to engage the beveled ends of the respective dogs and open the dogs, and means for holding the ends of the dogs normally closed.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

MARCUS RAY GOWELL.

Witnesses:

Y W. A. BA'roHnN,

E. M. LESTOOK REID.

(iopiel of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 01' Patents,

Washington, D. Q.

comprising an enlarged portion and a 

